Friday 24th July, 2020
Hi
I so wish I had that crystal ball
I so wish I had a crystal ball to see ahead to where 2020 is taking small business. I get it that we can't travel and do stuff that we probably would want but my hunch is that all businesses that are dealing with feel good at home stuff are probably run off their feet right now... a bit like we are.
The way people are shopping at the nursery has changed tremendously since lock down. Where previously most would have once stopped, browsed through the nursery and collected their orders, many are now going online to do the deal. The difference to us is huge, as now, not only are we dealing with customers face to face but have this overwhelming responsibility to collect and collate all the orders in this new response to being at home. Don't get me wrong... it's amazing but you get used to doing business in a certain way and all of a sudden the rules have changed and somehow you must cope. I reckon that the guys that do the picking must do some 20 to 30 km in a day... the nursery must be some 500 metres from once side to the other and so its not difficult to chalk up a km or two.
My team is absolutely amazing, it's a huge place to run around to collect and sort everyone's order and it's crazy but we are doing our absolute best... lol and today's weather wasn't that crash hot, I have got to report, bitter cold and squally showers aren't fun, especially with paper lists and finding plants that are not in alphabetical order yet.
To that end most of our potting is now complete, of course there are always those few suppliers and plants that seem to make it drag out that much further and it's always that last plant that we need to complete a logical collection.
Today we started the big sort out where we get everything in some sort of logical order and the roses are the easiest.. the girls I believe got up to the letter G then said we are missing a heap of
Graham Thomas... they're in the W's due to lack of space. How did I know... well I have eyes in the back of my head so I don't miss much! Maybe next week we will get onto all the fruit trees.
Plants that you must have this week
Veltheimia Bracteata Forest lily or sand onion has a flower very similar to hot polkas but that is where the similarities end. The broad, dark green foliage, produced from bulbs, is lush and shiny and the dark pink flowers are borne on spikes high above the foliage. It prefers filtered light and good drainage, grows well in pots as long as you keep its moisture levels up through summer. I have this in a pot at home and it is just stunning with those leaves and the bonus is that it flowers now mid winter!!
Tecomanthe speciosa. This vine or climber is just gorgeous with not only the most stunning flowers but lush shiny and very tropical green leaves. Tecomanthe speciosa is one of those plants more commonly known by its Latin name, rather than its common name of Three Kings vine or Akapukaea. This rather special plant was reduced to once single solitary vine on the Three Kings island by goats. I can only think that this plant must be able to grow in some quite barren conditions if you think that even an intrepid goat couldn't reach it! Thank goodness this plant was rescued and propagated by horticulturalists and has found fame with in the gardening enthusiasts like me to ensure its survival.
These plants are so well grown I just had to get them, the plants are just stunning... it's too bad that I don't have that spot to grow one but these plants make me want to try again. Maybe with the warmer winters that we now have I might just get away with it... after all there are Pohutukawas growing at Rototuna. These plants are big and robust already with some already flowering.
Pots Urns and Urns. Our range had become a tad light there after lock down and then the potting season kicked in. I managed to find time to do a reccy up in Aucks and 18 pallets of pots later this week we a looking pretty full. I am sure that there will be something for every one, from glazed to the antiqued look. We even have some of the new Bianca range which are very light weight resin types finished in white and black... I have potted a couple of cloud trees in some of the largest sizes for that ultra modern look and they do look very cool. Call out and check them all out!!
Have you noticed... Wahoo Spring is on its way
Yep its official those fat furry
Magnolias buds are swelling and the season of spring is definitely on... well the magnolias seem to think so! The
Magnolia Vulcan in our garden is now out and almost in full bloom and I was looking at denudata this morning and its about to pop. I have been writing this blog for a while now and most will know that I just adore this genus of trees and the whites are my fav. Denudata alba is one of the first of the whites to flower. While on the about the whites, I planted another large flowered white called
David Clulow to remind me of a special Aunt in my life and was looking out towards her tree the other day and it also was on the verge of flowering too.
I hadn't realized how low the number of varieties of Magnolias that we had until we started to pot them and now the range is just impressive again. From those with the large cup and saucer flowers like Iolanthe, the traditional tulip shape of San Jose, the starry blooms of the
stellatas,
Jane platt in all manner of pinks whites and rosy red... check them all out. I have to find room for one more this year, being Lenneii alba or and mabe Billowing cloud.
If you love Magnolias then here is a newbie for you...
DerykPlanting and pruning now
You need to be thinking pruning as we move from July to August particularly with all of this inclement squally weather that we are having right now. My guess is that over the next few weeks that all of the buds will be starting to swell and plants will need to be pruned. Its best done on a nice dry sunny fine day and if you only get weekends off this can be tricky so take the opportunity if it presents. The display garden will need to have all its roses sorted soon and I know that I will need to get into my orchard at home. Do a follow up spray with Copper Oxychloride and conqueror oil as well..
Potatoes Its early I know but if you have a hankering to grow Maori potatoes, then these are in stock right now. The other potato varieties are still a few weeks away but you can still order them online and we will let you know when they are in stock.. Many like to sprout these first before planting so lay them out in a warm sunny spot in the garage until they sprout and then get them in to the garden... good rich soil to grow a bumper crop.
Broad beans are yum and now is the time to get these sown and get the plants well established through late winter so they provide a bumper crop going into early spring..
Peas are another cool season crop for the home gardener and there is nothing like home grown peas... I have broad beans up already but must get some more in and think that I will grow some peas this year as well.
Lets not leave out the
yams but plant them in a position where you can leave them for a long time to reach maturity... last time I put them in a spot that I needed but will give these a go again.
On that note my weekend tasks speak for themselves, I need to get my home orchard pruned and of course I need a few other trees to complete the space. Clean up and weed the vege garden so that I can get some more broad beans in and some peas. Hopefully it will be nice and fine otherwise it will have to wait for a another day.
No matter whats on your agenda, have great a weekend
Cheers from Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team.
